First high-level UN visit to Nauru marks milestone for SIDS

The United Nations Secretary General's Special Adviser on
Post-2015 Development Planning, Ms Amina Mohammed is in Nauru this
week (10-13 Nov) for specific talks on how the complex challenges
that Nauru and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face,
can be addressed in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

This is Ms Mohammed's first visit to Nauru and the Pacific,
hence provides a unique opportunity for Nauru and SIDS to call
attention to the obstacles and challenges they face ahead of three
major negotiations that will take place over the next year.

Ms Mohammed said one of the bigger initiatives Secretary-General
Ban Ki-Moon has in place at present is education and so to look at
some of the goals that are lagging in that agenda.

"While we may have got most children into school, the quality of
that education gives great concern for many. And so this is an
impetus with [development] partners to come to the fore. In
particular, Nauru has done very well to put education back on the
agenda and front and centre," Ms Mohammed said.

She highlighted the importance of building on education as an
ingredient in the sustainable development process.

Ms Mohammed is accompanied on this trip by Nauru's Permanent
Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Marlene Moses, who
was instrumental in setting in motion Ms Mohammed's visit.

This morning (11 Nov) Ms Mohammed visited Nauru Secondary School
and the Republic of Nauru (RoN) Hospital before taking part in the
commemoration service for Armistice Day where she laid a wreath on
behalf of the United Nations.

Ms Mohammed also made courtesy calls on Cabinet ministers and
caucus members and will later be hosted to a dinner reception by
His Excellency, Acting President David Adeang this evening (11
Nov).

Tomorrow (12 Nov), Ms Mohammed is expected to go on a boat ride,
before touring other schools, the boat harbour, the Nauru Utilities
Corporation and meetings with members of the opposition, heads of
department and state-owned entities and ending the day with a
barbeque with members of the community at the Carey Grammar hall in
Aiwo.

On her last day (13 Nov), Ms Mohammed is expected to take a tour
of the mining site and the Regional Processing Centre before
departing in the afternoon.

Nauru is currently chair of the Alliance of Small Island States
(AOSIS) which is a coalition of 44 member states and observers of
small islands and low-lying coastal countries that share similar
development, environment and climate challenges. AOSIS is the chief
advocate for action on climate change capable of protecting the
world's most vulnerable nations at international climate
negotiations.